Improvement in riffle-boxes for concentrating ores



W. H. STANLE-Y-.-"t

RIFFLE-BOXES FOR CONCENTRATING ORES.

No. 187,193. r I Pate nted Feb. 6,1877.

NJETEM PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER WASNINGTDN. O,

UNITED STATES WILLIAM H. STANLEY, OF VIRGINIA CITY, NEVADA.

IMPROVEMENT IN RlFFLE-BOXES FOR CONCENTRATING ORES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 187,193, dated February 6, 1877; application filed September 18, 1876.

To all whom it mny concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. STANLEY, of Virginia City, in the county of Storey and State of Nevada, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Riffle-Boxes for Concentrating Ores containing the precious metals 5 and I do hereby declare that the following description and accompanying drawings are sufiicient to enable any person skilled inthe art or science to which my invention most nearly appertains to make and use the same.

This invention has for its object the separation of sands, debris, and worthless particles from comminuted wet ore, such as auriferous sands, sulphurets, &c.

It consists mainly of an oblong trough or flume, having a close cover or top, made flush with the top edges or sides of the trough. In this cover are placed pegs or pins, which extend downward to the bottom of the flume, which disrupt and break the flow of water which carries the ore and debris, and causes the heavier and richer particles to be deposited in the trough around the pins, and the lighter sands and worthless portion to pass 011' at the lower end of the liume, all of which will hereafter more fully appear.

Referring to the annexed drawings, and to the letters marked thereon, Figure l is an end view; Fig. 2, a longitudinal section; Fig. 3, a plain view of cover with pins'in position.

A represents the flume or trough, provided .with a smooth regular bottom and sides,

within which is placed the movable cover B, flush with the top edges of the box. This cover is provided with a series of vertical pins or riffles, 0 c, the upper ends of which extend up through the cover, while their lower ends rest upon the-bottom of the box or flume. The riftles c are rectangular in cross-section, and placed crosswise of the cover at suitable intervals from end to end. The riffles c are triangular in cross-section, and are placed between each of the rows of pins 0 with their The operation will be as follows: The ore,

with sufficient water being fed to the upper end of the box or flume, will impinge or strike against the triangular riffle c, and be deflected 'or carried against the fiat surface of the rectangular pins or riffles 0, along the whole series, which will cause the heavier and valuable particles (the current being disrupted and retarded) to fall by gravity upon the bottom of the box or flume around the riffles, while the worthless and lighter particles will be carried down by the flow or current of water, and out at the lower end of the flume, leaving the valuable portions of the ore free from worthless matter.

In order to clean up, as it is called, the cover and riftles can be easily removed from the box or each series of' boxes, as the flume can be extended to any desired length.

By this simple means much valuable ore can be concentrated and saved, which is now allowed to run to waste in the tailings from quartz-mills, &;c.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is-

A riffle-box for ore concentration, consisting of a flume or trough, having a flush-fitting cover, from which project rows of arresting pins or riffles, the pins of said rows being alternately triangular and rectangular in cross-section, and the several rows interspaced, substantially as and for the purposes set forth. In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 4th day of September, 1876.

WILLIAM H. STANLEY. Witnesses:

R. W. CHASE, B. F. SMITH. 

